Believe it or not, there is a cure for arthritis, which is defined as an inflammation and soreness of the joints, often accompanied by pain and changes in the physical structure of the body. Thus joints may become twisted and malformed.

The two main types of arthitis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis develops as a resut of constant wearing away of the cartilage in the joints due to age. Symptoms include body stiffness and pain in the joints during damp weather, in the morning or after heavy exercise. Rheumatoid arthritis, on the other hand, affects the whole body. Emotional stress usually triggers its onset. It destroys the cartilage and tissue around the joints and sometimes on the bone surface.

More than 90 million people on this side of the world suffer from arthritis. However this chronic disease can be staved off with exercise and adequate nutritional supplements that are high in vitamins and minerals. Vitamin A, calcium and iron are key here. As soon as one reaches the age of 18, they should begin to supplement their diet with these important nutrients.

Another important strategy for keeping arthritis at bay is to be found in massages.

A half cup of olive oil coupled with a teaspoon of pimento oil is key here to removing plaque and other waste deposits from the joints. Be very careful not to overuse the pimento oil as it will burn your skin. Aloe Vera is also very good for soothing arthritic joints and lumbago (back pain), as is comfrey beaten into a poultice or used as a hot compress.

Alfalfa is a very important nutrient for sustaining the body’s strength, as it contains alkaloid that gets rid of pain. It is one of the richest herbs that one can put in the body because it contains so many phyto nutrients. Racehorse owners in North America often give their animals alfalfa hay to eat to give them power. Alfalfa seeds are also good for sprouting to be eaten as a delicacy with every meal.

Black cohosh is normally used to relieve pains and irritation and reduce the concentration of sulphuric acid in the blood.

Yarrow taken as a tea is very good for cleaning the blood. It breaks up and eliminates mucus and helps regulate the functions of the liver. Capsicum otherwise known as bird pepper is a wonderful stimulant that combats arthritic pain.

It is a good tonic for a weak heart and may be mixed with comfrey, aloe vera, olive oil, and cohosh and boiled in a little vegetable shortening to make an excellent ointment for easing arthritis.

Chaparral dissolves uric acid accumulation and acts as an antiseptic.

Uva ursi is another herb that can be used safely for arthritic pain.

Other herbs that may be taken in moderation to ease arthritic pain include angelica, horsetail, tumeric, blue vervain, juniper, ginger, ecinacea and ginseng.

Green drinks such as callaloo pakchoi and wheat grass are also helpful.

Buckston Harrison is well known for his work as a herbalist, especially in western Jamaica. He resides in Sheffield, Westmoreland.

Try my curry bean

I’m often asked what I put in my dishes to make them so tasty.

The answer, in a nutshell, is that there is no one combination of herbs or spices.

Parsley, penny royale, bush cabbage, fever grass are a few of the less common herbs that are full of flavour and important nutrients. I use them along with scores of others to create a myriad of taste, all of them delightful.

Today, however, I’ll tell you about my curry bean, an exotic fruit produced by the chinese callaloo plant.

Just a few of these berries enhance any meal, be it one-pot, sip or salad.

The leaves also make for a very interesting flavour.

So try to access this very interesting plant and try it out in any dish of your liking. I can guarantee you will taste the difference!

Thomas ‘Bongo Tommy’ Huber is a Swiss national who migrated to Westmoreland’s Retrieve District 10 years ago. He is a naturalist who lives off the land and is deeply involved in an ongoing effort to create Jamaica’s next generation of exotic fruit trees.

From the mailbox

Hi Buckston

I read your article about the use of bird pepper to treat hypertension. I noticed that you did not give the instruction on how it is to be taken. I eagerly await your instruction.

I like the dumpling idea. I have been using whole wheat flour but have only mixed it with cornmeal.

Reader

Dear reader

Swallow four bird peppers for the day – two in the morning and two in the evening – for a month. Remember this condition will not heal overnight… stay off the sodas and other foods that are high in sodium content, please!

Buckston

Buckston and Huber’s Alternative is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, cure, prevention or treatment of disease. You may send your questions and comments to thealternative@jamaicaobserver.com.